Bodily and Vocal Practices

This profile area explores techniques, methods and systems for the articulation, interpretation and communication of creative ideas and visions through the use of body and voice.

The central questions at issue concern notions of interpretation and physical performance; however, an aspect of this research also entails pedagogical and didactic approaches and forms of knowledge, as well as issues of sustainability in artistic and other forms of practice. Both individual and collective processes become objects of research. These may arise out of various materials, compositions and contexts. Related modes of critical inquiry enable thinking of the body and voice in terms of social and political space, which in turn brings to light the ways in which corporeal practice expresses conventions, norms and coded systems, while creating the potential to challenge and re-evaluate them. Ultimately, research in this area investigates the interplay between practice, technique and interpretation, and develops knowledge of the ways in which these processes can be verbalised and communicated to others.

Interpretation and Performance (gestaltung)

Vocal and bodily practices are basic prerequisites for individual and/or collective gestaltung work. This work may include notations, drafts, compositions, texts, improvisations, scores, artistic visions and concepts, and psychological or abstract contexts and relationships. All of these are conceivable starting points for research into how practice, technology and gestaltung work and interact.

The Body and Voice as Social and Political Space

This area invites the raising of issues concerning how the body and the voice express conventions, norms and coded systems. These may be of a technological nature but they also work as social and political signals and messages that the research can investigate, challenge and review using a gender-aware and norm-critical approach.

Sustainability Perspective

This profile area may contribute to the development of anatomical, ergonomic, bodily and vocal practices. By connecting the development of these practices to a performance expression and critical reflection, the foundations may be laid for a lifelong and sustainable artistic practice.

Linguistic Articulation

This area’s unspoken knowledge may be articulated linguistically and conveyed by means of various techniques and systems including pedagogical and didactic skills and approaches.